New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-10
THE SPECULATIVE BENEFIT.
A NUISANCE OF SERIOUS PROPORTIONS.
RFPUTApTP MAys

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Fifty years ago the contract which the young actor
actress made with the manager of \ stock company
usually contained clause defining the terms on which
the benefit" at the close of the should be re-
ccyed Sometimes half of the proceeds were shpu-
lated tor sometimes the whole Tho benefit a
recognized Part OF the actors emOuments and as such
there to object to it, 1t helped the actor
by adding to his earnings, it helped the manager by
lifting from his shoulders part OF the burden OF his
salary list, and it gave the friends aud admirers OF
the actor chance to gather round him and show him
tangible evidences of their esteem. The starring"
and combination" systems became prevalent and
tor time the benefit disappeared Little by little 1t
was revived, but in q modified form. Some we'll
known and selliked public avorite would find him
self-through no fault of his Own-in sore need and
those interested in his welfare would arrange for him
benefit, his professional friends would provide the
entertainment and a handsome sum would generally
be secured. OF late, however, this form OF benefit
has been noeiuly abused. Toward the end OF the
season when summer with its dull times begins to
loom up before the theatrical worker lotersr he
begins to think IL is ABOUT time he got up benefit
Accordingly he hires theatre for Sunday night as
first sieI agreeing to pay say $3.50 tor the use OF it,
Then he begins to the life out OF such actors
actresses musicians and others he knows intimately
or otherwise. In nine out OF ten this benefit
Spectator il in the position of business manager or
treasurer and has hold certain professional
people with whom his employer has business rela-
TONS As rule these do not dare to refuse to acccde
to his request others cannot resist his opportunities
Others tell him that though they cannot appear he
may use their amos" that is, announce them know
ing at the time that they will send :" letter OF
apology" So he gets a programme OF some sort ;
advertses to q limited extent. worries the newspap
tor notices to greater and manages possibly to
attract house representing $1,000 to $1,000 in
cash. Expenses say $3.50; clear profit from $500 to
Sl,15O. Next Sunday night some other well known
business manager" Journalist or factor, comes in
for his tnrn. 10 such extent has th, benefit NUS
developed that is said that theatre in this
city let tor every Sunday nj ,ht until the end OF May
for benefits OF sort another. Ii has become
speculation, and the more prominent managers
beginning to give the matter their earnest atten
ton and trying devise means whereby the
specuatng under the yenent cloak of charity may
be stopped.
The Actors Fund, its records show, was started
primarily to do away with miscellaneous benefits and
the passing round OF the hat In greenr,oms All ben-
cts those tor the Actors Fund to be done
away with 1t may rairly be considered, therefore,
incumbent the officers of the fund to take this
scandaous state OF affairs into consideration IL has
been suggested that by law should be passed render
ing 1t obligatory all members OF tho fund TO refuse
to appear at assist in any benefit performance which
not given with the sanction OF the funds trustees
unless they shall be conpensated therefor Thus any
who considered that he Was entitled to receive the
proceeds OF benent performance wonld have 10 sub
init the case trustees OF the fund Ii the case
proper they would sanction 1t aud 1t could
he announced under the auspices OF the Actors
Fund IT, on the contrary. they refused 1t their sup
port It would tail through lack OF entertainers. Thus
the worthy benefits, such "a that arranged tor Mr..
Coudock, who has served the public well ana nobly
anu finds himself at eighty almost ruined or that
OF Mr. Dayidge who has been the stage Tor halt
century would gain from the extinction OF the specu-
lative Dement'S.
A. NJ Palmer as president of the Actors Fund, is
mainly responsible tor this practical solution OF the
difficulty lie said yesterday: - am opposed heartily
to these speculative benefits. They a,c generally
gotten up by men whose very names are unknown to
he nub but W
into appearing Tor them Oh course the pub
lie don't caro- as long IA they get "a sunday night
show and the worth OF their money. Inc worthy
object, OF the pubcs regard suffer. however "a does
the Actors Fund, which has never yet let deserving
90 unrelieycd feel very strongly on the subject
and 80 far as | have any power have put my foot
down on IT long ago. II man makes decent income
u rough the season reason why he should APP
peal hard working actors aud actresses 10 make him
prrsent of their services any than he should ask
them tor S2J in cash. Each OF these mock benefits
hi ia belI hurts TO nm apnrcciabo extent the pro-
fes.o 10 large and worthy objects of relief in parcu
lar. II cohld say when appealed to to give
recitation aud in a speculative benefit III any way
that they were unable to do SO by reason OF their
nhilistion lth the land. think they would welcome
the opportunity and those who deserve benefits would
he ni the better Oh tor the Endorsement OF the Actors
Fund institution. IL was only the other day that
n WORTHLESS. fellow arranged benefit for himself using
his position of forcing artists TO appear tor
him. aud he had realized ABOUT 800 he quietly
bolted of TO Europe leaving all his bills unpaid AZ
the last annual meeting of the fund spoke strongly
on this subject for that the fund suffered terribly
these mock benefits. ms year Snail DC even
more frankly outspOkcn, and hope shall have the
indorsenent OF nv brother-managers and the probes
sion at large Understand me fully, though. do not
wish TO be taken as saying n word against bencits
gotten M for wcii-known prominent Woodworking
actors for worthy charitable institutions II the
profession help III such cases as these 1t Is ITS
bounden duty 1t is the mock benefit arranged as u
speculation under the suse OF charity which con
DENIM
Daniel Frohman expressed himself much to the same
purpose. " am opposed" said he. to these promis-
cuous benefits gotten up by Tom, Dick or barry
whom the public has heard Of As rule actors
and would he delighted to be able to refuse
they asked appear but they are too often
afraid of the consequences should they say no. am
inclined :hink that the Actors Fund could domuch to
irown down this growing abuse. and anything could
do would be cheerully done At tho same time, how
ever o wise discrimination must be employed There
are cases In which public benefit performance il an
admirable affair. Tho proposal however 10 refer
these cases 10 the Actors Fund Trustees IL good
an would keep the door shut to those who are not
tied to benefit while opening IL even wider to the
right sort of people. Roughly speakin am opposed
to all benefits given by mcmpcrs OF the business staff
of theatre. Actors and actresses have certain valid
and pecllar claims on puolic esteem and affection,
but who knows or cares about the business manager
of q company or theatre u
Augustus iitou who is representative "combma-
ton manager, representing as he does Robert Mancll
and w. j. scanlan was emphatic in his dcnunciation
OF the mock benefit. The benefit OF tho old days
said he, " when was an actor was open to none OF
the objections TO which its descendant of to-day Is.
Then it an understood thing. and as much Il part
OF the actors perqusitc his salary lie had worked
hard all the season anu ganel maybe large number
OF friends in the city in which he played lis annual
benefit gave them opportunity to show their appre-
citation of his efforts to In another way, 90.
it OF service. Tho young Juvenile actor tor his
benefit would play leading part. lie had studied 1t
probably all the and put his best work into it.
Thus it spurred him to higher things, aud gave
nm chance to exhibit his powers. Often his engage
mcnt as leading man tor the following the
direct result OF his benefit. Now all this is changed
Save in special the benefit to-day Is pure spec
ulstion. The Actors Fund started originally to
do away with these ill-consdered affairs. and think
the time has come for prompt action on Its pat 1t is
the recognized actors society," aud do great deal
of good in this respect shat be only too glad TO do
all can to further any action in that direction"
DIAMOND SOLES
From The London Truth 49,,
Diamonds ought not to be worn on the soles OF tue
Shoes as certain French actress once wore them.
She had faint every night and be carried on the
L.. -l L. ..laa OF